The Living Animals of the World, Volume I: Mammals

THE FENNECS.

Africa has a group of small foxes of its own. They have very large ears and dark eyes, Some of th em remind us of the Maholis and other large-eyed lemuroids. Several are not more than 9 or 10 inches long; they are a whitish-khaki colour, but the eyes are very dark and brilliant.

The COMMON FENNEC is found over the whole of Africa. Its favourite food is dates and any sweet fruit, but it is also fond of eggs, and will eat mice and insects, It is probably the original hero of the story of the fox and the grapes, The large-eared fennec, which is sometimes called the SILVER Fox, is found from the & Sons. north as Abyssinia,Cape to as far Photo ly A. S. Rudland FENJSTEC-FOX. It is 23 inches long, and lives Remarkable for the great size of the ears. An African species. Its sense mainly on insects of hearing is probably very acute. and fruit.

101 The Dog Family

DOMESTIC DOGS.

BY C. II. LANE.

THE DOG, almost without exception, shows a marked liking for the society'- of Kumari" beings, and adapts itself to their ways more than any other animal.

Fox-, Stag-, and Hare-hounds the latter better known as Hariers and Beagles have many points in common, much beauty of shape and colour, and great suitability for their work, though differing in some other particulars.

Another group Greyhounds, Whippets, Irish Wolf-hounds, Scottish Deer-hounds, all of which come under the category of Gaze-hounds, or those which hunt by sight are built for great speed, to enable them to cope with the fleet game they pursue. In the same group should be included the BORZOI, or Russian Wolf-hound, now very popular in this country, with something of the appearance of the Scottish deer-hound about it as to shape, but with a finer, longer tail.head, deeper body, more muscular limbs, and shaggier in the hair on body and all the hound tribe. This variety The OTTER-HOUND is one of the most picturesque of somewhat reminds one of a large and leggy Dandie Dinmont terrier, with a touch of the blood-hound, and is thought to have been originally produced from a cross between these or similar varieties. The BLOOD-HOUND is another, with much style and beauty of shape, colour, and character about it which cannot fail to favourably impress any beholder. The matches or trials which have of late years been held in different localities have been most interesting in proving its ability for tracking footsteps for long distances, merely following them by scent, some time after the person hunted started on the trail. By the kindness of my friend Mr. E. Brough, illustration a portrait of what he considers the best blood-hound I am able to give as an ever bred. Much valued by sportsmen with the gun are POINTERS, so called from their habit of remaining is discovered, eagerly pointing in its direction until thein a fixed position when their quarry ; butarrival of the guns. They are most often white, with liver, lemon, or black markings occasionally self colours, such as liver or black, are met with. They have been largely bred

{Bristol. Photo by F. H Dembrey]

STAG-HOUND PUPPIES.

This gives an interesting group of hounds in kennel.

I in the west of England. have been fortunate in obtaining one of Mr. E. C. Norrish's celebrated strain as a typical specimen for illustration. The SETTER group, which comprises three varieties, are all useful and beautiful in their way. The English are usually white, with markings or tickings of blue, lemon, or black; they are rather long and narrow in the head, with bodies and sterns well feathered, and are graceful and active movers. Gordon setters, which are always black and tan in colour, and preferred without any white, are generally larger and stronger in build than the

Photo by T. Fall] [Baker Street. last-named. Irish setters are GBEYHOUND. more on the lines of the A typical specimen of this elegant variety. English, being a rich tawny red in colour, rather higher on the leg, with narrow skulls, glossy coats, feathered legs and stern, ears set low and lying back, and lustrous, expressive eyes.

KETRIEVERS may be divided into flat-coated and curly-coated. Both are usually black, but other colours are occasionally seen. The coats of the first-named are full, but without curl in them; while the latter have their bodies, heads, legs, 'thighs, and even tails covered with small close curls. The eyes of both should be dark, and the ears carried closely to the sides of the head. In an article dealing with retrievers, which appeared in the Cornhill : " ThereMagazine under the title of " Dogs which Earn their Living," the author writes is not the slightest doubt that in the modern retrievers acquired habits, certainly one acquired habit, that of fetching dead and wounded game, are transmitted directly. The puppies sometimes retrieve without being taught, though with this they also combine a greatly improved capacity for further teaching. Kecently a retriever was sent after a winged it some way down the ditch,partridge which had run into a ditch. The dog followed and presently came out with an old rusty tea-kettle, held in its mouth by the handle. it was found that inside theThe kettle was taken from the dog, amid much laughter; then ! The explanation was that the bird, when wounded, ran into thekettle was the partridge ditch, which was narrow. In the ditch was the old kettle, with no lid on. Into this the bird crept; and as the dog could not get the bird out, it very properly brought out the kettle with the bird in it. Among dogs which earn their living, these good retrievers deserve a place in the front rank." The illustration shows a good flat-coated retriever at work. is rather large, including the English and Irish water-spaniels, the The SPANIEL group former an old-fashioned, useful sort, often liver or roan, with some white or other markings, and a good deal of curl in the coat and on the ears. His Irish brother is always some shade of liver in colour, larger in the body and higher on the leg, covered with a curly coat, except on the tail, which is nearly bare of hair, with a profusion of hair on the top of the head, often hanging down over the eyes, giving a comical appearance, and increasing his Hibernian expression. They

Photo by C, Reid) (Wishaw, RETRIEVER. This represents a flat-coated retriever at work, and is remarkably true to life, 103

make lively, affectionate companions and grand assistants at waterfowl-shooting. CLUMBER SPANIELS are always a creamy white, with lemon or light tan markings, and are rather slow and deliberate in their movements, but have a stylish, high-class look about them. SUSSEX SPANIELS are also rather heavy in build and of muscular frame, but can do a day's work with most others. They are a rich copper-red in colour, with low short bodies, long feathered ears, full eyes of deep colour, and are very handsome. BLACK SPANIELS should be glossy raven-black in colour, with strong muscular bodies on strong short legs, long pendulous ears, and expressive eyes. Good specimens are in high favour, and BLOOD-HOUND. command long prices. I regret I cannot

This photograph shows what an almost perfect blood-hound should be like. find room for an illustration of this breed, so deservedly popular. COCKERS, which are shorter in the back, higher on the leg, and lighter in weight, being usually under 25 Ibs., are very popular, full of life, and very attractive in appearance.

BASSET-HOUNDS, both rough- and smooth-coated, are probably the most muscular dogs in existence of their height, with much dignity about them. In the Sporting Teams at the Royal Agricultural Hall there were some thirteen or fifteen teams of all kinds of sporting dogs, and of these a team each of rough and smooth bassets was in the first four.

DACHSHUNDS are often erroneously treated as Sporting Dogs. There are certainly not so many supporters of the breed as formerly. Their lean heads, with long hanging ears, long low bodies, and crooked fore legs, give them a quaint appearance. The colours are usually shades of chestnut-red or black and tan; but some are seen chocolate and " dappled," which is one shade of reddish brown, with spots and blotches of a darker shade all over it. GREAT DANES, though mostly classed amongst Non-sporting Dogs, have much of the hound in their bearing and appearance. The whole-coloured are not so popular as the various

Pholo by E. landor] [Baling.

ENGLISH SETTER. SMOOTH-COATED SAINT BERNARD.

A typical but rather coarse specimen of a beautiful variety. The illustration gives a capital idea of these handsome dogs.

The Dog Family 105

shades of brindle and harlequin, but I have seen many beautiful fawns, blues, and othei whole colours. They are being bred with small natural drooping ears. One of the first I remember seeing exhibited was a large harlequin belonging to the late Mr. Frank Adcock. with the appropriate name of " Satan," as, although always shown muzzled, he required the attentions of three or four keepers to deal with him; and at one show I attended he overpowered his keepers, got one of them on the ground, tore his jacket off, and gave him a rough handling.

NON-SPORTING VARIETIES.

SAINT BERNARDS, although sometimes exceeding 3 feet at the shoulder, are as a rule very docile and good-tempered, and many are owned by ladies. The coat may be rough or smooth, according to taste; but either are splendid, animals. They are sometimes seen self-coloured, but those with markings shades of rich red, with white and black, for preference are the handsomest. They are still used as " first aids " in the snow on the Swiss mountains. So far as I remember, this is the only breed of dog used for stud and exhibition for which as much as

Photo by Fratelli Alinari] [Florence. 1,500 has been paid; and this GREAT DANE. has occurred on more than one This shows a typical specimen of this breed, with cropped ears, which will be dis continued in show dogs. occasion. NEWFOUNDLANDS have re-gained their place in popularity, and many good blacks and black-and-whites can now be seen. Numerous cases are on record of their rendering aid to persons in danger of drowning, and establishing communication with wrecked vessels and the shore.